Egg-crate.



G. T. IVIOFFETT EGG CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov,20,1913.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

taken in connection with the GEORGE 'I'. MOFFETT, 01F HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA EGG-CRATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1916.

Application filed November 20, 1913. Serial No. 802,118.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. Morrnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Huntsville, in the county of Madison, State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Egg-Crates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in egg crates.

Une object of the invention is to provide an egg crate which is simple in construction, comparatively cheap to. manufacture, and which can be quickly and easily knocked down or set up.

Another object is to provide novel means for securing the crate in closed position, and to so construct and arrange the partsof the crate that the fastening device serves to hold the parts of the crate firmly together in set up or knocked down position and closed when set up.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, when drawing.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is an elevation of my crate in set up position. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a top planview with the cover removed. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the crate in knocked down position, showing the parts properly held together.

eferring particularly'to the accompanying drawings, 10 and 11 represents respectively the top and bottom of the crate, all of the parts of the crate being preferably formed of sheet metal. The bottom plate has three of its; edges bent over onto the plate In the form of flanges, as indicated at 12 and 13 respectively, while the top plate has the same three edge portions turned under, and in the same manner, as indicated at 14 and 15. The fourth edge of the bottom has a flange turned under as indicated at 16 which prov-ides a double thickness of -the metal to strengthen this edge- The corresponding edge of the top plate is bentonto the plate above, for the samereason and in the same manner as the flange 16, this flange of the top being indicated by the reference character 17. I 1 a The sides which are represented at 18 are .21 and 22, .so that inforced or accompanying provided on their lower edges with the outturned flanges 19 which are received between the flanges 12 and 13 when the parts are in set opposition. The upper edges of the sides are formed with outturned horizontal flanges 20 which are received between the flanges of the top plate and the plate, and permit the said plate to be readily slippedon and oil. The bottom plate can as readily he slipped on and off as the top. The sides are connected together at the cor ners of the crate by the interlocking flanges the sides may be quickly and easily taken apart or assembled.

Secured centrally to the inner face of each of the side members of the crate are the angle plates 23, and slidably held in the angle plates are the crossed interlocking division plates 24.

Formed through the central' portions of the upper and lower flanges of the side of the crate which is disposed between the redoubled edges of the top and bottom plates, and through these doubled portions are the registering openings 25 and 26. Formed through the top and bottom plates, the inturned flanges thereof, and through the flanges of the side of the crate opposite to the ones last mentioned are the registering openings 27 and 28. Passed through these registering openings and extending around the crate from top to bottom is a fastening wire 29, the ends of the wire beingbrought together at any suitable point and twisted together. It will thus be seen that when the wire is passed through the registering openings of the top, bottom, and the flanges of the two opposite sides of the crate, the top and bottom plates are not only held in proper closed position, but the sides are held thereto and in proper position.

When it is desired to reship the crate, the parts are placed in the positions shown in Fig. at and the fastening wire cut into two pieces, and these pieces passed through the openings of the top and bottom plates, their ends being twisted together. Thus the parts are held properly together in knocked down position and safe against loss or damage.

Particular attention is directed to the reinforced side edges of the top and bottom plates, the flanges of the sides disposed therebetween and at the opposite -side of the crate, and the registering openings which receive the fastening wire therethrough whereby the crate is held in closed position and the parts against being accidentally knocked down. i v

Whatis claimed is:

1. A knock down crate comprising a plurality of detachably connected members forming top, bottom and sides thereof, said top and bottom, having projecting flanges formed with vertically alining apertures, said apertures being adapted to also aline when the crate is in knock down position, and a flexible element adapted for passage through the apertures to hold the crate in set up position at times, and adapted for passage through the apertures to hold the crate in compact form in knock down position.,

2. A knock down crate comprising a plutop and bottom having projecting flanges tion, said top having downwardly projecting flanges at the side edges and said bottom having upwardly pro ecting flanges at the side edges whereby to prevent lateral displacement of the. remaining parts when the crate is collapsed and the top and hottom secured together.

In testimony whereof, I afiix mysignature, in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE T. MOFFETT. Witnesses:

, M. B. SPnAoms, H. .C. LONDMAN. 

